Some Quick First Impressions: Comic Girls, Megalo Box and Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru

Comic Girls

Short Synopsis: A timid high school girl moves into a dorm for manga artists and makes new friends.

Wooper’s review

I wasn’t expecting much from this series, given its moeblobby promotional art and studio Nexus’ small portfolio, but this premiere was charming in some spots. Our pink haired protagonist spends most of this episode in various states of panic, so Comic Girls takes frequent trips into her overactive imagination, turning her into quite a sympathetic character in the process. She’s not especially creative or talented, but I found myself rooting for her all the same (probably because she’s small and cute). Despite her constant freakouts, the show maintains a playful air for much of its first half – check out the multitude of sunny exterior shots that combat Kaos-chan’s gloomy mood, or the soothing guitar/marimba/accordion trio that plays around the five minute mark. It’s the stuff that came later that took the wind out of my sails – the conversations between manga artists at the dorm didn’t have a speck of originality to them. Topics included obsession with senpai, breast sizes, and ganbare-ing until you just can’t ganbarou no more. The line, “You think I’m cool? Even though my boobs are small?” is uttered here, probably not for the first time in anime history, but certainly for the first time in a show that had me kind of interested. After a while, the overwhelmingly positive vibe between the four girls wore thin, and my attention was lost. If CGDCT is your favorite genre, I’d give this one a look, but otherwise, don’t bother.

Potential: 20%

Mario’s review

Just like Saredo show down there, I’m on the fence on whether I will give those shows some more episodes. With Comic Girls, it’s a cute-girls dose of this season, this time with them being an aspiring mangaka. Although this one doesn’t offer much for viewers outside of its intended market, I enjoy the self-awareness of the characters in Comic Girls. Most of the humor comes from its ability to poke fun of the mangaka life, like how many of them don’t have any real friend, and that Kaos theatre gags nail it on the playful and imaginative of a girl who makes drawing as her living. These other girls have some nice quirks and they bounce off each other well but that’s all about it. Don’t expect them to grow or anything since this type of show focuses more on laid-back atmosphere than any meaningful development. One thing this show does have some edge though, is there is a potential of yuri elements here. Overall, this is a mild and inoffensive offering with some playful (but totally unrealistic) depiction of mangaka life, so for those who into cute-girl shows, this one is a solid recommendation, otherwise you won’t see much point here.

Potential: 30%

 

Megalo Box

Short Synopsis: an underground illegal boxer is ordered to throwing matches.

Lenlo’s Review:

Finally, an anime with style. Megalo Box reminds me the likes of Cowboy Bebop or the original Ashita no Joe, but more modern. The rough and unclean lines give it this aged feel. While there are a lot of still shots that look eh at best, in motion I love it. The lack of smooth, clean lines, mean the animators don’t have to clean it up as much so I am expecting some beautiful boxing, ala Hajime no Ippo. Especially as, from the short match we got in this episode, the fights follow a rhythm. Just look at the shot of Ghetto Hachiya beating on Junk Dog, the rhythm of his fists striking our lead was great. Combined with the, so far, stellar music tracks and I just love everything about Megalo Box. So long as it keeps the story small, a personal grudge match kind of thing, then I think Megalo Box will flourish. Just, please, don’t get too complicated. Don’t try to be a big world affecting story. You don’t need it, Megalo Box.

Potential: 90%

Mario’s review
I admit that I wasn’t too optimistic about this show before it’s airing. Boxing isn’t my favorite (anime) sports and the promotional arts feature a character with cyborg parts completely turned me off. Thankfully, this premiere explains its world well, and gives us an underdog character worth spending time for. Who doesn’t love an underdog boxer to take the trophy, right? Its premise is what I consider straight-forward but right to the point. Junk Dog is going to participate in that mega-boxing tournament and I sure am on board to see this through to the end. It helps that Megalo Box has a distinct retro visual flair, with gritty lines and those bumping musical beats that engrave so well with its gritty, washout world. Junk Dog is the right kind of protagonist for this show and so far, his character is complex enough for us to root for him and so far, the production and animation are both excellent. It has been quite a while (I can’t recall the last good one on top of my head) but finally, a sport series that can be a highlight of a season.

Potential: 75%

 

Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru

Short Synopsis: dragon hunters hunt dragons.

Lenlo’s Review:

If Megalo Box in a word is style, Dances with the Dragons would be tedious. It’s filled with techno-magic-babble, meaningless fights with no stakes and a generic “magic knight” concept. It’s like every terrible fantasy anime trope rolled into one. Stupidly long character names, no real magic system. In a world with machines and knowledge of Planck’s and Nuclear Energy, we are given screaming men with big swords and flashy lights who clearly have an edgy attitude problem. There is nothing memorable in Dances with the Dragons, with even the magic coming off like what we have seen in every other generic fantasy anime. The fact that the MC is a proper adult is a pleasant change of pace, they have a life and relationships. But that is about all it has going for it. I have seen people call it the “LN version of Berserk” and that its fans “can’t believe it got an adaptation” because it’s so dark. But so far Dances with the Dragons just feels like a “2edgy4you” generic fantasy series that I don’t expect to go anywhere interesting.

Potential: 5%

Mario’s review

Saredo’s first episode feels too busy with setting up many plot threads that the whole thing is an incoherent mess. On the one side, we have this duo who both love to step on each other’s mouth but somehow realize that they’re invincible together. On another side, there’s a whole conspiracy thing going on that for now it’s hard to figure out what’s all the deal is about; and then there is a string of murders going on. The magic and fight parts are by far my least interested elements. I do like the fact that this world contains of many characters from other races, like the glassed dude’s girlfriend is apparently an elf, and its world-building is intriguing enough to develop some interesting scenarios here, serious mature ones to boot. Not to say I am fond with these two leads but I can tolerate them for a while longer. I will stick with it for another episode just to see the clear picture regarding where it will head. Otherwise, if you’re not already a fan of its LN or you aren’t a hardcore fantasy action buff, then you might just skip it.

Potential: 20%